New private schools 'secretly approved'

The Australian Education Union (AEU) is accusing the ACT Government of being secretive when approving new private schools.

The AEU says it lodged a detailed proposal opposing approval of two new campuses for Canberra Christian schools in Molonglo and Charnwood last year.

It says it has since discovered through a third party that the ACT Government has approved the projects without public announcement.

The union is questioning whether those two project applications demonstrated there was demand for the schools, and that the viability of existing schools would not be undermined.

The AEU argues public money subsidises private schools so it should be better informed about approvals.

And it says the Government should provide assurances that public schools will not come under threat from what it calls predatory enrolment-seeking or poaching.

But the Government denies any secrecy.

"I make decisions and there's business going on each and every day and we don't make a public comment about it," Education Minister Joy Burch said.

"But I've heard from the AEU and I've said okay we can make the process better. But this is not about stifling any of the conversation about it."

Ms Burch says she will now publish the information on the Government's website.

"It's quite a public and open process. There's public notification of the applications, anyone can come in and have a look at the application and make a comment. All of that is for all to see," she said.

"I think it's more of come in and have a look and ask for the documentation so what I've asked the directorate to do is make sure all that documentation is available on our website at the various processes."

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